stops at the sound of

his name called by

a stranger – then

recalls

who she is and forgets

himself: it’s you

he smiles (he always means it)

he laughs (and feels abashed)

her eyes mirror his

she is his (they always are)

they are both young

veterans

they both can

remember

moments of belief, of the only kind

he’ll know

all strangers

his kind. He is

kind, or he could be, this singled out

outsider

he takes her

camera and asks

Am I in there?